Mounted on ivory guards, the fan leaf depicts pine tree in monotone ink accentuated on a gold-speckled paper. On this face, the famous Beijing Opera performer, Mei Lan Fang dedicated this fan to Wong Ming Pak and signed off in the summer of 1954. On the other side, Mei quoted two poems by Ruan Yuan 阮元, a notable official and scholar in Qing dynasty. The first one expressed optimism and faith for the future through a scenic description of a beautiful season. The second poem alluded to Ruan Yuan's contentment with his station in life.The fan belonged to Wong Ming Pak who had a deep appreciation for Chinese calligraphy. He met some visiting Chinese luminaries who left him autographed fans. The paintings and calligraphy by Beijing opera performers have also been seen in other fan collections as they were important figures in men’s cultural life.A sign of scholarly, learned disposition, the folding fan was a classic men’s fashion accessory in the gentry circle such that men were only considered properly dressed when seen with one. They were often personalised with paintings, poetry and calligraphy and exchanged as gifts among the literati as tokens of friendship.
